Purpose of the Royal Rounds

The Ansteorran Royal Rounds are designed to provide a method for individual archers to track their progress and skill improvement while shooting a under a standard set of rules. Very similar sets of rules are used in most other kingdoms of the known world.

The Royal Round Ranking System allows archers to compare their own progress against other archers in the kingdom and provides the archers with a sense of accomplishment and visible symbols of their achievements.

The Royal Rounds are NOT a competition. Everyone who participates is a winner.

What's a Royal Round?

A Royal Round consists of four groups (Ends) of arrows/bolts:

6 arrows/bolts (no time limit) at 40 yards,
6 arrows/bolts (no time limit) at 30 yards,
6 arrows/bolts (no time limit) at 20 yards, and
timed round (30 sec.) at the 20 yard target with unlimited arrows/bolts

Archers may only submit one score per division and weapon type per day. An archer can shoot as many rounds as they wish on any day but only the highest scoring round for each division should be submitted to scorekeeper. For example an archer could submit a maximum of four Royal Round scores on any single day limited to one score in the Open Handbow division, one score in the Open Crossbow division, one score in the Period Handbow division, and one score in the Period Crossbow division.

A Royal Round has to be shot as one continuous shoot. An archer must declare when the Royal Round is started, and must shoot each end until the Royal Round is completed. The order of the ends is left to the archer or the Marshal, at the discretion of the Marshal, as long as the Royal Round is shot as one complete, uninterrupted shoot.

The archer may not pick and choose the best ends out of multiple rounds. Each round is a complete end-to-end exercise, where EACH arrow counts toward the final score of that round.

Once the start of a Royal Round has been declared, ALL arrows shot MUST be counted toward the score. Ranging shots and practice shots in between ends are specifically prohibited.

The archer may take a reasonable amount of time to complete a shoot, but no other arrows must be shot for any purpose (including another competition), once the archer has declared the start of his/her Royal Round. If that happens, that Royal Round score cannot be counted.

Royal Round scores can be derived from an IKAC Round. But in those instances the First 20yd timed end, along with the First 20yd, 30yd, and 40yd untimed end stand as one Royal Round. Likewise, the Second 20yd timed end, and the Second 20yd, 30yd, and 40yd untimed end stand as a second discrete Royal Round. Archers may NOT pick and choose the best ends out of an IKAC round to build the best possible Royal Round.

General Equipment Specifications

All equipment should be consistent with pre-17th century archery in looks and function. Both recurves or longbows of any material (including takedowns) are allowed. There are no draw weight limits. In the open divisions any bow allowed by the SCA target archery rules are allowed. Compound bows are prohibited

Adjustable or fixed sights are not allowed except as noted for crossbows.

No modern spring/flipper rests or plunger buttons are allowed. The use of simple rests is allowed, such as:

• simple one-piece plastic or non-adjustable wire rests
• feather, bristle, leather, etc. rests
• built out shelves or rests
• the use of the shelf in/on a cutout window is also allowed

Arrows/bolts must be wood shafted and fletched with feathers or other pre-17th century material. No plastic vanes.

No non-period string releases or sighting aids are allowed. No stabilizers, slings, or other high-tech aids allowed. Peep sites, clickers, kisser buttons, or other similar modern aids are not allowed.

Bush buttons or "whisker" string silencers are allowed.

Nocking points are allowed in the open divisions.

For sighting, bow limbs may be marked in the open division only. Documentation may be required for period releases, rests, or sights.

Equipment guidelines are more strict for the period divisions.

Targets and Scoring

OPEN DIVISION The target is a 60 cm FITA, five color face. Scoring: Gold=5, Red=4, Blue=3, Black=2, White=1.

PERIOD DIVISION The target is a 60 cm, three color face modeled after the target depicted in the Luttrell Psalter. Scoring: Or=8, Vert=4, Argent=2. The standard five color 60 cm. IKAC target may be used, except that the scoring is different. The scoring is: Inner Gold=8, Red and Outer Gold=4, White and Blue=2.

An arrow/bolt that is touching the line between two colors (or the outer line) counts as the higher valued color; no color showing between arrow and line. Arrows passing through or falling out (bounce off) count as 3 in the Open Division and 4 in Period Division unless their actual score can be verified. Archers may count and record their own scores but the Marshal In Charge should submit them.

This page maintained by Ansteorra's Royal Rounds Keeper. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcomed.